Latest news with #SeftonMagistratesCourt
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Ex-air hostess is caught drunk at the wheel at 2am after 'foolish' decision to drive home following night drinking wine with friends
A former air hostess was caught drunk at the wheel of her car at 2am after making a 'foolish' decision to drive home following a night drinking wine with friends. Abigail Alty, from Southport, Merseyside, had stopped drinking for around two hours before getting behind the wheel of her Fiat 600 and said she thought she was in a fit state to drive. The 31-year-old, who now works as a housing manager, had spent the evening of May 16 with friends when her work called with the opportunity to take up some unexpected overtime the following day. After agreeing to take up the offer, Ms Alty remained with her friends into the early hours of the morning before taking to the roads and overtaking a police car. Merseyside Police officers noticed that she was struggling to stay in the lane ahead before signalling her to pull over. She was arrested after refusing to provide a breath sample, but a subsequent test showed Ms Alty was almost twice the alcohol limit after it revealed she had 68mg of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath. Ms Alty appeared at Sefton Magistrates' Court where she was fined £415, ordered to pay £166 in costs and surcharge and banned from driving for 17 months. She was also offered a place on a drink-drive awareness course which if completed will reduce the ban by a quarter. Prosecuting, Andrew Page said: 'The matter goes back to May 17 of this year. PC Shearer was on duty at 1.50am on Liverpool Road, Crosby, going towards Crosby Village when he saw a vehicle behind him. 'It appeared to be quite close to his vehicle and he moved to the left to allow it to go past, this being the defendant's Fiat 600. 'The vehicle was observed to have poor lane discipline and crossed over the white central line. The officer caused it to stop on Moor Lane. He spoke with the driver who identified herself as Ms Alty. 'Due to a suspicion she may have been driving above the alcohol limit she was asked for a roadside sample of breath. 'She did not provide a roadside sample of breath so she was arrested and cautioned and taken to a police station where two samples of breath were provided. The defendant is a lady of good character, no matters being recorded against her.' Ms Alty's lawyer, Marcela Salter, said: 'She was with friends and she received a telephone call asking if she would do an extra shift the following day. She agreed and stopped drinking alcohol at that point. 'She remained with friends for approximately an hour-and-a-half to two hours before making the foolish decision to drive. She felt she was able to drive her motor vehicle. 'She accepts that she was followed by the officer and stopped. This was the first time she had ever come into contact with Merseyside Police in terms of any criminal involvement. 'She panicked and wished to make a call to her father and was then arrested for failure to provide a sample of breath at the roadside. Obviously at the police station she co-operated. She was just scared of what was going to happen.' Ms Salter added: 'Ms Alty works full time as a housing manager. She earns £1,800 a month. She also does some voluntary work for the Samaritans and she is also registered care for her aunt. 'To some extent this is a very busy lady who does not frequent the court on a regular basis. 'This was a one off and I am sure that you will never see Ms Alty again. She is extremely remorseful and has found the whole experience embarrassing and difficult.' Sentencing, Michael Readitt said: 'In relation to this matter we give you full credit which means that any sentence will be reduced by a third. 'We also have taken into account your previous good character and that you co-operated with the police on the day.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Woman who crashed into primary school suffered seizure, court hears
A woman who crashed a car through the wall of a primary school suffered a seizure at the wheel, a court has heard. Joanna Murray, 41, admitted dangerous driving after the collision on April 22 last year, which saw her white Mercedes crash into The Beacon Primary School in Everton, Liverpool, at 8.30am, shortly before the school was due to open. At Sefton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, District Judge Paul Healey accepted a basis of plea in which Murray said she could not remember the collision but later discovered she had a seizure. In the basis, she said she had been driving her son to school. She said she was on medication for seizures but, at the time, had not suffered one for two years. She accepted she had not disclosed her medical condition to the DVLA. Murray, of Queens Drive, Liverpool, was due to stand trial on Tuesday for failing to provide a specimen but the case was adjourned to December 9 as a witness was unable to attend. The judge said the collision caused 'catastrophic damage', but added: 'Thankfully no-one was injured.' The defendant, who was in tears during much of the hearing, was granted unconditional bail.
